Traffic issues addressed at Umbilo Business Forum meeting
Andrew Layman, spoke about traffic congestion in the precinct, and mentioned steps made by himself, working with the UBF, to address this issue.
A NUMBER of issues were raised at the recent annual general meeting of the Umbilo Business Forum (UBF).
The UBF, a voluntary membership and non-profit organisation, was established in 2010 and has become the voice of the local business community.
Guest speaker at the meeting, Andrew Layman, spoke about traffic congestion in the precinct, and mentioned steps made by himself, working with the UBF, to address this issue.
He said the two areas of concern are the railway reserve areas and the Alan Paton Aqueduct covering, which are both the result of the decision not to dig out Clairwood Racecourse as a harbour extension.
As a result, Sydney Road has borne the brunt of an unplanned change to a ‘Back-of-Port’ service area. Properties have been rapidly converted to warehousing, but many non-port businesses continue to trade in Sydney Road and close-by areas.
ALSO READ: Forum launches security initiative for Umbilo
The UBF created the pressure to cover the area between Gale and Sydney Roads on the Alan Paton aqueduct as a pressure relief valve and to create a more inviting access for shoppers and business visits to Sydney Road.
However, once this project was given the go-ahead, the UBF has heard it will be handed to the minibus taxi associations, currently creating a negative impact to traffic.
The UBF is in the process of requesting details on this suggestion and putting before the eThekweni Transport Authority its reasons why such a plan will be destructive to existing business in the area, and how it would be best utilised as a truck staging area.
With help from Layman, recommendations were submitted to the municipality to use the railway siding area to for truck staging.
“It was agreed in discussion with business that the Maydon siding area serves large logistics companies and is wide enough to be used as a thoroughfare for trucks and for truck staging.
However, the next move is for businesses that hold siding rights to relinquish these, which will clear the way for the process to go ahead and get trucks off Sydney Road. Through private investment there is a plan to build a truck staging facility which will help reduce congestion,” he said.
The second matter addressed by Layman, related to a proposed Urban Improvement Precinct which was investigated for the area.
The UBF’s engagements with Layman over the past 18 months researched the viability of becoming a UIP and many property owners were canvassed at the end of 2017 and in early 2018. At the end of the process there were distinct problems leading to a decision not to embark on this rates-based funding route, however Layman feels for the precinct to run efficiently, a precinct manager needs to be employed to address service delivery.
A noted contributor to the cultural economy in the city and country, Andries Botha, addressed all present, speaking on the things that underpin the economy – people, spirit and the importance of an inclusive economy. He said it was important for individuals to transform their personal narratives into action, and to look at how we manage opportunity, and vision, and make things work.
Ending off in light of these words, Sikho Msomi, chairman of the UBF, said in our individual capacity we can contribute to the collective, which was the view of the UBF.
Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
